Thursday, August 30, 2012

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies… ~ Courtesy of Goodreads”

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of those rare, amazing sequels that are actually a thousand times as good as the first book. If you've read Obsidian then I'm sure that gives you some idea of just how good Onyx really was, because Obsidian was off-the-charts awesome.

Daemon and Katy really show their true colors in Onyx, both for the good and for the bad. Katy really has a chance to show what she's made of. Between the Arum, the DOD, and all kinds of other hazards (insert awesome twist here!), she stands up for not only herself, but for the people she cares about too. Taking her awesome factor from pretty awesome to an almost Daemon-level of badass-dom. Speaking of Daemon, he's no slouch in the character growth department. Armentrout presents a whole new side of Daemon in Onyx: a sweet and loving side. It's a part of him you don't see much in Obsidian. The vulnerable part that helps you understand just how much he feels for Katy and his family. In Onyx you start to really see just what these characters would do to protect one another from their growing list of enemies.

I loved that even though Katy's world might be flipped on its head after finding out Daemon and Dee's secrets she still takes time to do what she loves: book blogging. She's not one of those girls who forgets to breath because that doesn't involve her boyfriend. In fact, whenever she get angry she goes right to books to calm herself down and put her in a good mood. I also love that, at one point, while Katy is "training" with newcomer Blake, Daemon actually calls her out on not updating her blog, saying that she loves it and shouldn't just stop because she's busy with some boy. One of my favorite scenes in the entire book is when Daemon helps Katy film her In My Mailbox vlog and holy hot aliens, you guys! It's amazazing!

I am so, so in love with the Lux series, I can't even describe it other than this: You know when you read a book and it's really good and then you finish it? You know that awful feeling of missing the characters and the world you just left behind? That's how I feel about Onyx. I miss it. I will be waiting very, very impatiently for the next book in the series!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

A couple of days ago I joined the Army of Ten, the street team for Gretchen McNeil's upcoming novel TEN. If you haven't heard of it you should go and check it out. It's a really fun way to spread the word about TEN and you can earn free swag and entries into gift pack giveaways!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

This week's teaser comes from The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa. You guys. This book! So good! I still haven't finished The Iron Fey series (I know, I know) but I've been dying to read The Lost Prince anyway!

“I'm dying to know what goes on in that broody head of yours.''I don't brood.'She snorted. 'Tough guy, if brooding was a sport, you'd have gold medals with scowling faces lining the walls of your room.”{The Lost Prince, Chapter 5}

Goodreads Synopsis of The Lost Prince:Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

“Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s life has been a freaky — and unending — lesson in caution. Surviving “accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn’t let her die before, and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul. ~ Courtesy of Goodreads”

Inbetween by Tara Fuller is a cute story about a grim reaper and the human girl he's sworn to protect, despite all of the trouble he knows he'll get in. It's told in alternating points of view, jumping back and forth between the brooding reaper Finn and the innocent human Emma. Inbetween is a story of forbidden love and vicious vengeance.

I felt like I had jumped into the middle of a book when I started Inbetween. There's a lot of history between the characters. History that you find out about later in the book, but it's glossed over in the beginning, which left me feeling like I was missing something. But that same suspense and intrigue was what kept me interested in knowing how it was all going to end, so it wasn't a bad thing. Just a little unsettling at first. The only thing that annoyed me about Inbetween was the way that during the entire course of the book all Emma and Finn say is how much they want to be with each other all the time. I get it, you like each other. You don't need to keep repeating yourselves!

In fact, Emma and Finn's romance is about as close as you can get to instalove without actually crossing the line. The only thing that saves their relationship from truly being classified as instalove (though I think I'll classify it that way anyway) is that they fell in love twenty-something years before Emma even meets Finn. They first met when Finn was reaping Emma's soul to take to the Inbetween and she decided she wanted to be friends with him. So there is a lot of history there, we just get to see very little of it in the actual book.

So, I may not have been the biggest fan of Finn and Emma, but I really liked Emma's friend Cash and Finn's reaper friend Anaya. I really, really wish that I had gotten to see more of them. Or better yet, if they got a book all of their own in the future. Their story just seemed so much more interesting to me, and I connected with them in a way I just couldn't with Finn and Emma. There's a mystery between them and I can't wait to find out what it is!

All in all, Inbetween was a nice, light read. The story didn't quite stick with me as much as I would have liked, but it was fun while I was reading it. Inbetween might not have been exactly what I was looking for, but I still recommend this for anyone looking for a cute romance or a good story about angels/reapers.

When Matt and Emily are sent on their second mission they have no idea how truly dark human nature can become…

Emily never wanted to face humans again. With the heartache that went on down below, she’s still trying to figure out how to save souls that don’t deserve saving. The only one she wants to see again is Jason - the young man she fell in love with who became the soulmate she simply can’t forget…

Matt was trained to protect and defend the souls down below. Longing to feel the heartfelt emotions that come from being human, Matt wants nothing more than to have just one life - one chance - to live and love the girl of his dreams…

The powerful team find themselves in a brand new century, living in the Gilded Age of New York City. Emily takes over the body of Anya, a young Russian girl who arrives on Ellis Island after a hideous tragedy. There she meets up with a strangely familiar young man by the name of Drew Parrish, who helps Anya survive in an unknown world of luxury, snobbery and…obsession.

What Anya’s inner angel doesn’t know is that the soul she loves is also back. This time around Jason goes by the name of Max Carrow. Once a quiet and kind boy, he’s now part of the ‘Four Hundred Club,’ and wants nothing more than to be among the most admired as he climbs the shaky ladder of society’s elite.As two worlds merge, Emily and Matt struggle under the weight of their “Gilded Wings.” Not only will they have to figure out who they should fight to save, but they must also face a romantic choice that could destroy them both. ~ Courtesy of Goodreads”

Isn't it pretty? It definitely has the same feel of the Until Next Time cover. And it makes me hope that this time around we will see a lot more of Matt! You can find Until Next Time at Amazon!

Today we have an excerpt from The Hands of Tarot by SM Blooding! And we have a giveaway of a signed paperback of The Hands of Tarot AND a totally adorable Tarot Doll of the winners choice! Scroll to the bottom of this post to enter for your chance to win! Here's a synopsis of The Hands of Tarot:

“She killed his father.She imprisoned and beat him.And now she thinks he’s her trophy.Synn El’Asim will do almost anything to prove her wrong. But he’s only proving her right.Queen Nix awakened his Mark of power and inducted him into the House of Wands. She knew what she was doing. The son of the two most powerful Families standing against her is the ultimate prize.What she didn’t take into consideration was that maybe he was too strong for her.Maybe.But the Families aren’t. They’ve been weakened and it’ll take a lot more than one young man with a powerful Mark to take on the Hands of Tarot.”

Excerpt:

As soon as my eyes adjusted to the brightness, the air escaped from my lungs. Before us was carnage. There were two wooden pyres burned to smoking ruin with the charred remains of people on top of them. The air reeked with the smell of burned flesh. Several more pyres stood, two currently burning, three more untouched, all of them in a circle surrounding a large cage.

Filled with children.

Guards walked from one of the burning pyres and lit torches, walking to the neighboring one to set it ablaze.

The children inside whimpered. One screamed, her hand reaching through the bars. Most of them silently wept, watching as their loved ones succumbed to the smoke.
I couldn’t just stand by and watch this. I took a step forward, my hand going for my sword.

My father stopped me, his eyes troubled with sorrow.

Queen Nix turned to me and smiled. “Do you wish to declare war?”

“Let them go,” I commanded, my voice ragged. “What have they done to you?”

She stalked toward me, her nose nearly touching mine, all semblance of beauty twisted with rage. “They refused to submit to me.”

I stared at her aghast, my hands clenched, my jaw tight. “So because you couldn’t control them, you’re going to destroy them?”

The rage turned cold across her features as she drew away, her shoulders back. “Are you so weak?” The muscles in my cheek twitched.

Father took a step toward us. “Perhaps we can reach a mutual agreement.”

Someone in the cage screamed, the scream turning to ravaged sobs.

I let out a growl. “You will stop this!”

The queen turned her eagle-eyed stare to me. “I do not take orders from a mere boy.”

“Queen Nix,” my father started, “let us be reasonable.”

She took a step back and assessed him.

“The Umira have never been a harmful Family.” My father’s hands were wide at his side, his expression open. “They have always lived in peace with the Hands.”

Her eyes flared and she advanced on him. “You’ve allied yourself with them.”

Father’s eyes widened as he took a half step back.

I watched in alarm, unsure of what to do. My father was the strongest man I ever knew.

The queen grabbed his coat and pulled his face close to hers. “The Umira have always been a peaceful Family, so imagine my surprise when they assaulted us with cannons and weapons.”

“They have the right to defend themselves, Nix.”

“Not against me.” She pushed him away and turned to her gathering guard. “Take him and his heathen son. Throw them on the pyre.”

My father drew his sword and faced the guard. “Go, Synn, now!”

Our men drew their weapons and stood by his side.

“I’m not leaving you, Father.” My sword was in my hand. I was ready to die an honorable death by my father’s side.

About the author:

SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, their new addition, Mr. Bird, who’s a real bird. She likes to hike the beautiful Rocky Mountains, and is learning to play the piano and guitar. Currently, she’s trying to MURDER them both. Friends call her Frankie.

She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.

Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home—and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia’s origin—a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost. This is a supremely compelling debut novel that blends the awakening romance of Matched with the mystery and jungle conspiracy of Lost.

Today we have an interview with Tom Bane, author of Masks of the Lost Kings, and an excerpt from the book! It's about Suzy da Silva, and archaeologist on an adventure to discover hidden truths. Here's a synopsis:

“Following the sudden disappearance of treasure hunter Ben Sanders in Mexico, beautiful archaeologist Suzy da Silva is snatched from the cloistered environs of Oxford University and thrust into a deadly maelstrom of intrigue and discovery. Joining forces with astrophysicist Tom Brooking she crosses four continents, to unlock the dark secrets of Tutankhamun's tomb, the Holy Sepulchre and the mysterious Mayan Temple of Inscriptions to reveal a mysterious truth. Together they risk their lives, pursued by martial assassins and renegade special forces, fighting the forces of evil to discover hidden knowledge so precious that it has lain dormant for over a thousand years... ~ Courtesy of Goodreads”

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a writer an novelist, when I was younger I was very different I studied Physical Chemistry at Manchester then at Oxford University, it was hard science like quantum physics, thermodynamics and cosmology. As I grew older I started trying my hand at creative pursuits like painting and writing, I’m a much better writer than a painter I just find it innately easier, trying to express yourself with just a paintbrush is a million times harder, like Horace said “A picture is a poem without words”.

How difficult was it getting published?

Nearly impossible I would say! I have not got any special tips for new authors to get published, other than be ultra-resilient and keep going.

Name one book that inspired you to start writing and how it inspired you?

The book I liked most as a child was an unusual but captivating story by Arthur C Clarke called the Fountains of Paradise. It is an idealistic story about life and death and the attempt by humans to achieve something worth living for- in this case to realize the construction of an elevator into space, to take humans outside of earth orbit and colonize the stars. I liked the combination of really thorough research, accompanied with a sense of philosophical purpose and human adventure. I try to aspire to use the same attributes in my own writing, although I don’t write science fiction, as it can be a bit too dry a genre sometimes.

Your novel, The Masks of the Lost Kings is about a female student, Suzy da Silva. Tell us what you think makes her a great character.

Suzy da Silva is the daughter of a Brazilian beauty queen and a distinguished Professor of Archaeology, Suzy is an unusual combination of poise and intelligence. Raised on the tough streets of Rio de Janeiro and educated at the prestigious Oxford University, she is working on her post-doctorate studies in Egyptology when she finds herself drawn into an adventure. She is a strong lady but not lacking in femininity, I wanted to portray a character that was bold and genuine, but at the same time believable and approachable, I thought that was best delineated through a female heroine. I think people are much less bothered about traditional stereotypes of male heroes these days, so there was no danger in using the character of Suzy da Silva.

What is your favorite line from one of your books and why?

I like the first line in the book.

“They emerged from the black, dripping jungle night already bruised and drenched from the hot rain of the Tumbala Mountains.”

Excerpt from Masks of the Lost Kings:

They emerged from the black, dripping jungle night already bruised and drenched from the hot rain of the Tumbala Mountains. Ben and José, his tribal guide, were making progress, but it didn’t feel like it. In every direction unbroken jungle spread out around them in spirals of verdant green, impeding their every move, slowing down every step as it clutched at their limbs, trying to trip them up and hold them back. Something was following them in the trees above their heads. Ben guessed it was monkeys disturbed by the flames of José’s Cahune palm torch and made anxious by this intrusion into their nighttime privacy. Mosquitoes patrolled in jerky circles, mounting regular painful attacks on their sweating skins. All around, the buzz of cicadas crested and receded like tropical ocean waves, making it hard to listen for any sounds of impending danger.

Just like the heat, a sense of menace cloaked the ancient Mayan rain forest like a deadly veil. The gods had been starved for over a thousand years. Now they wanted a sacrifice. They demanded blood.

The temptation to turn and run was almost overwhelming, but Ben knew he couldn’t give up now. This search for a sacred truth was his chosen quest. If he could pull this off, his reputation as an archaeologist and astrophysicist would be assured. He would win his place in the history books forever. His hunger for the truth had led him inexorably toward this ancient prize, the captivating pyramidal Temple of Inscriptions. Beneath its stone interior lay the mysterious subterranean death crypt of King Pacal that Ben was risking everything to unveil. The tribal elders and survival experts he had consulted had all issued the same warning, telling him of the wet season's bloodthirsty mosquitoes, vicious horseflies and mud traps that could suck in a man up to his knees, or worse. Everyone said it would be best to wait until the place dried out in summer, but the lure was too great and Ben was too impatient. He couldn’t risk waiting even for a few months and losing out to a rival. Inside this jungle lay a giant Mayan lost city, with a secret concealed for a thousand years, a secret that he now had the code to unlock.

The sweet smell of orchids filled the hot, wet air and brilliant blue butterflies floated randomly past, like musical notes, suspended in narrow beams of moonlight.

Ben's shirt snagged on the spiky tropical leaves, making him twist awkwardly. His foot shot out from under him, toppling him sideways. Suddenly he was falling through the air as if the ground had opened up beneath him. Grab something, his mind shrieked. Anything! A jolt slammed through him as his hand caught a tree root, halting his fall, while his left knee smashed into hard stone. Dirt and rocks were falling around him. His muscles screamed in pain as he clung on in the dark. He must be hanging over the side of a ravine but he had no idea how deep it was beneath his flailing feet. The root shifted in his hands as the earth began to surrender its hold. He glanced up, and a fresh shower of dirt stung his face.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns? ~ Courtesy of Goodreads”

Right from the get go Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins had me on the edge of my seat. It's been awhile since I've had that "Oh my god! What's gonna happen next? I can't wait for more!" feeling. Especially right from page one, but Sweet Evil was so fantastic I couldn't not read late into the night. I didn't want to put the book down.

Sweet Evil was definitely not what I was expecting. It's like, if The Mortal Instruments and Amy and Roger's Epic Detour had a really hot baby, that baby would be Sweet Evil. It's got all the elements of a truly entertaining read. A strong heroine who doesn't know who she really is, a sexy, sexy bad boy love interest, and an edgy and unique twist on angels and demons.

I loved the mythology Higgins built in Sweet Evil. The idea of certain demons being allowed to take possession of human bodies to cause destruction in the human world isn't exactly new, but the way Higgins writes it is original and very entertaining. It's also pretty scary. I think this was my favorite use of Nephilim in a story ever. I loved their history and their roles in demon society. I felt really bad for the Nephilim too (or at least some of them anyway).

Anna and Kaidan's relationship was sizzling, right from their very first encounter. Anna is the ultimate good girl, while Kaidan acts like the ultimate bad boy. I feel like throughout this series those roles might waver a little bit. They're both really amazing characters, whether they are together or apart. Anna does get a little stalker-ish from time to time, but it was done in a very realistic way. I imagine more than one girl will look at Anna's behavior and cringe knowing that they acted similar at one time or another. (Hot boys tend to bring out the wacky in us!) And poor Kaidan. You'd think a rock star half-demon would love having a job like "lust" (basically sleeping with different girls every night), but watching Kai struggle with his job and his feelings for Anna is painful. I love me a good forbidden love story and Sweet Evil definitely delivers on that front.

While their relationship is a big part of the story, it's also about Anna learning her lot in life. Her situation is difficult and pretty unbelievable and I probably wouldn't handle it with half as much grace as Anna does. I thought she was a very relatable character and I can only imagine how awesome she'll be as she grows throughout the series.

Sweet Evil was an all around fantastic read that I urge everyone to read. It's a must read for fans of Cassandra Clare. It will hook you from the very first page and not let you go until the very last. And oh that ending! You will be a total wreck until the sequel, Sweet Hope, comes out. Or, at least, I will be!

And be sure to check out our guest post by Wendy Higgins HERE. She's talking about her Top 5 Favorite Fictional Crushes! And you can follow the other Sweet Evil Tour blogs HERE for more chances to win awesome prizes!

Today, as part of theSweet Evil Blog Tour hosted by Fall Into Books, we have an awesome guest post by Sweet Evil author Wendy Higgins! Wendy's telling us about her Top 5 fictional crushes and why she loves them! Also, don't forget to read our review of Sweet EvilHERE and enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post to win a signed Sweet Evil Bookmark!

Wendy's Top 5 Fictional Crushes!

A baby-faced “bad boy” who wins the interest of a taken rich girl? Ah, Leo was so super cute when he smoked those cigarettes on the Titanic and played it cool as he talked Rose down from the ledge. And then the ending...how much he loved her. *sniff, sniff*

Okay, I know I’m supposed to love Adam, and I do, but there’s something about Warner. I totally have a forbidden crush on him. He’s just so messed up emotionally. He’s got major baggage. Fierce passion. Young and brave. I can’t wait to learn more about why he is the way he is.

I was in love with him throughout the entire series. So much so that I could not even bring myself to fall for the sexy Adrian (although I’m all about Adrian in the Bloodlines series now). Dimitri’s quiet sexiness and dedication won me over. He wasn’t cocky about his awesome skills. He practiced major self-control when it came to his feelings for Rose, so when he actually gave in it was sooo hot. Mmm...Russian boy.

Ooooh, he was such a jerk at first! But I still wanted to see more of him. Then when the truth comes out about why he behaves that way he’s suddenly swoony. Green eyes, playfully cocky attitude, reluctant feelings for Katy when he knows he shouldn’t feel that way. *sigh* And he only gets sexier as the series goes on!

The book just came out this month, but I was lucky enough to critique it before publication. I freaking love Caleb. Even while he’s hard to figure out, sort of shrouded in mystery, I found myself flipping pages, just dying to get to the next scene where I could see him again. Then I’m pretty sure I actually yelled at the book at one point, “Kiss him!” And when it finally happens...hello tingles, straight to the toes. So good.

Thanks for having me on your blog, Jesse, and letting me talk about one of my most favorite topics! I heart fictional boys.

Thanks so much to Wendy for stopping by today and to Amber from Fall Into Books for putting together this awesome blog tour! You guys rock! And, by the way, I'm pretty sure Kaidan makes the list of our favorite fictional crushes!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

This week's teaser comes from Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I've finished this one already, but Taylor is currently reading it so we decided to do a teaser. I mean, who doesn't want to read a Daemon teaser, right?

“If you keep lying, I think I will have to leave,' he threatened halfheartedly. 'I don't feel like my virtue is safe.''Your virtue?' I huffed. 'Whatever.''I know how you get.' His eyes closed.” {Onyx, Chapter 10}

Goodreads Synopsis of Onyx:Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

Monday, August 20, 2012

Today we have the pleasure of having a guest post from Hal Eisenberg, author of Overnight Sensation, which is about today’s world of instant fame and how some people will do just about anything to achieve it. In this post, Hal talks about the teen stars he envisioned when developing the characters and the music that inspired him while writing the book. We also have an awesome giveaway featuring two Overnight Sensation Prize Packs! Be sure to scroll to the bottom to ENTER TO WIN! First, here’s a little about Overnight Sensation:

“Jonah Levine is practically invisible at Applecrest High. His Facebook page is pathetic, his baseball skills are mediocre at best, and his IQ seems to drop 50 points when talking to girls. But everything changes when his rock band, Hitstreak, becomes the hottest teen sensation in the country. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans.So why isn’t he jumping for joy?Well, for starters, that hit on the radio wasn’t really recorded by his band. In fact, six months ago, he and his friends could barely play a note between them. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans. What begins as a mindless prank quickly spins out of control, involving his father’s secret past as a ‘70s rocker, a high school bully who wants in on the action, and a ruthless media mogul who will stop at nothing to claim the band as his own. Will Jonah prevail? Or will he and his band go down in flames and become the biggest farce in pop music history? ~ Courtesy of Goodreads”

Guest Post by Hal Eisenberg

When I began writing Overnight Sensation, I already had a plan to develop it into a screenplay and pitch it as a theatrical release, which I am now doing! So, I started thinking about who could play each character’s part. The lead character is Jonah Levine, a 15 year- old who gets drawn into a scheme of pretending to be in a band that acquires instant fame when they take credit for song on the radio which was really recorded by someone else. That’s when Drake Bell came to mind.

When envisioning his best friend, Jess, the twenty four hour-a-day flirt that chases anything with long legs and a pulse, I pictured William Moseley.

For Jonah’s other friends and members of the band, Kyle and Bart, Michael Cera and Nathan Kress were my choices. When you read the book, see if you agree.

As for the music, the first song that played in my head from the very beginning was a song few had ever heard. It was written and recorded by some friends of mine in a band, the Raves, and it’s called, Every Little Bit Hurts. It’s got a retro feel, but I could also envision a band like Maroon 5 doing it as well. If you visit my site, www.hal-eisenberg.com, you can hear it for yourself. There’s also a contest where teen bands can record their own version and download it to win prizes.

After Jonah learns about his dad’s secret past as a ‘70s rocker, he convinces him to get the old band back together and they play all the classic rock songs Jonah grew up listening to like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Doobie Brothers and Chicago. I had all of these groups playing on my iPod while writing the book. And as the boys began to form a real band of their own, I listened to bands like Train, Muse, Maroon 5, and Linkin Park.

Towards the end of the book, the boys get to meet Chris Martin from ColdPlay, so Yellow and Paradise were in the mix as well. When you read it, see what songs come to mind and feel free to share them on my site. And if you’re an aspiring writer, I urge you to keep going and write about what you love. The rest will take care of itself!

Today we have the pleasure of talking to Hal Eisenberg, author of the young adult novel, Overnight Sensation. Make sure to scroll to the bottom to ENTER TO WIN a signed copy of Overnight Sensation and some awesome swag, including guitar picks and bookmarks! Overnight Sensation is about a fifteen year-old and his friends that accidentally become famous after taking credit for a song that was recorded by someone else. Here’s a synopsis:

“Jonah Levine is practically invisible at Applecrest High. His Facebook page is pathetic, his baseball skills are mediocre at best, and his IQ seems to drop 50 points when talking to girls. But everything changes when his rock band, Hitstreak, becomes the hottest teen sensation in the country. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans. So why isn’t he jumping for joy?Well, for starters, that hit on the radio wasn’t really recorded by his band. In fact, six months ago, he and his friends could barely play a note between them. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans. What begins as a mindless prank quickly spins out of control, involving his father’s secret past as a ‘70s rocker, a high school bully who wants in on the action, and a ruthless media mogul who will stop at nothing to claim the band as his own. Will Jonah prevail? Or will he and his band go down in flames and become the biggest farce in pop music history? ~ Courtesy of Goodreads”

Tell us a little about yourself and how you became a writer.

I’ve always enjoyed writing and carried that passion into my profession as creative director of my own advertising agency. I’ve written and produced many award-winning radio and television campaigns, but when I decided to write this novel, I soon discovered it was nothing like writing ads and there were times when I thought I’d never finish it. Despite the constant rewrites though, I was determined to complete it and I urge every budding writer out there not to quit because in the end, it’s worth it! I also encourage them to write what they know. As for me, aside from working with celebrities in ad campaigns, I’ve also been in rock bands all my life, so music and fame seemed to be a natural choice when putting together the premise for Overnight Sensation.

Your book deals with what many people seem to be obsessed with lately - fame, and even more so, instant fame. How did you come up with the idea for Overnight Sensation?

I’ve always been fascinated with pop music and bands that seem to come out of nowhere and score a big hit. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, bands were promoted by radio stations, along with the record company’s marketing machine... Today, with the advent of sites like YouTube and Facebook, and reality shows like American Idol and The Voice, it seems as if anyone has a chance to go for instant fame. So I wondered, what would happen if both the old and new mediums collided and made a band famous by accident? And what if, even though they didn’t deserve that fame, they decided to try and hang on to that fame?

And that’s what happens in Overnight Sensation?

Yes. First, Jonah sends some friends the song his dad’s old band recorded in their basement. Then, one of those friends emails it to a radio station pretending it’s his band called, Hitstreak. When the song accidentally gets played all over the country, the fake band becomes an overnight sensation, and the lure of fame and fortune becomes irresistible for everyone involved.

So, everyone has their own reasons for wanting to go along with the charade.

Exactly. They all get caught up in the fame game and end up having to deal with the reality of the situation. It’s like, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it!

How is the story told?

It’s told through Jonah’s eyes, and at times he even addresses the reader one-to-one like in the TV show, The Wonder Years, or the movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, where the main character looks directly at the camera talks to the audience. Also, Jonah ends up having to deal with a lot of other issues like the school bully who wants to be in the band, Jonah’s dream girl, whose mere presence causes him to forget how to speak in full sentences, and the ruthless, media mogul who’s out to take credit for the boy’s sudden fame.

Plus, there’s a little reality spin regarding the book and your website.

Yes! when I wrote the book, the song I had in mind that creates all the buzz is actually a real song entitled, Every Little Bit Hurts, written and recorded by some friends in a band called the Raves. So I put the song on my website, hal-eisenberg.com, and I’ve invited teen bands or solo acts everywhere to take it, record their own version, and then download it to the site. Anyone who does this is going to receive a signed copy of the book along with some swag like guitar pics and book marks and I’m also working some other cool prizes to the band viewers vote as having the best rendition of the song. It’s a great way for upcoming teen bands to showcase their talent and it’s a fun way to promote the book. I also plan on having some local teen bands perform when I do book signings around the country.

The book is Overnight Sensation and the author is Hal Eisenberg. Thanks for being with us!

Sure! Thanks for inviting me!

Be sure to check out Hal's guest post about the music that inspired Overnight Sensation and the actors he imagines playing his characters HERE! And ENTER TO WIN a prize pack including signed paperback copy of Overnight Sensation, bookmarks, and guitar picks!